This post is aimed at Oxford residents who want to help the Syrian refugees by sending supplies to refugees at Calais. I’m making it in hopes of reaching an audience beyond Facebook! An Oxford group is taking donations down to CalAid’s London drop-off point on 20 September. The list below (which I’ve taken from the Facebook group) tells you what supplies the refugee camp at Calais does need and what they don’t currently, need.
NEEDED
- Trainers, Hiking Boots & Wellies: only sizes UK 7-9, EU 41-43
- Tents (covers, tarpaulin)
- Jackets: sizes S, M only
- Travelling Bags
- Socks
- Candles or any other lighting
- Belts
- Tracksuit trousers
- Blankets
- Jeans (sizes 28 to 32)
- Smartphones with SIM cards
- Sleeping bags
- Soap and shampoo
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Plastic bags
- Woolly hats
- Pants
- Pots
- Pans
NOT NEEDED RIGHT NOW
- Women’s clothes or shoes
- Children’s clothes or shoes
- Jumpers or sweaters
- Nappies, baby wipes etc.
- Tampons or other feminine hygiene products
NOT NEEDED
- Sheets or pillows
- Suits
- Formal shoes
Donors are asked to sort their donations by type, so they can be easily stored & distributed to the refugees once the donations arrive in Calais. I’d also suggest using your imagination slightly on the above categories – remember that children need different-sized toothbrushes and types of toothpaste, ditto shampoo. Picture trying to look after your dentures in a refugee camp (other suggestions welcome!). Bulk-buy offers are also your friends (Boots has 3 for 2 on shampoo, and a lot of offers on dental products; many places will also be having kitchenware sales as the university terms approach).
In Oxford, donations can be left at the Turl Street Kitchen (I went there this lunchtime — ask a staff member to show you where you leave your things), Oxfork, the Magdalen Arms, and the Star pub (21 Rectory Road, East Oxford). The Facebook group gives contact names for additional drop-off points at Brookes uni, Kidlington, South Oxford Community Centre and South Oxford Farmers’ Market.
More information can be found on Facebook, or at the CalAid website. Cash donations to CalAid, used to help the refugees, can also be made (from anywhere, obiously) via JustGiving. Please share this post!
CLAMOROUS VOICE 
Where can I drop off a clothes and toiletries donation for the refugees as it is now 22/9 and I missed the 20/9 deadline? Is there any place near Witney/Kidlington/Oxford that are still accepting clothes and toiletries?
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Are the places listed still drop off places? It’s sept 2016 – is this up to date info? I’ve given lots of stuff to friends when they’ve visited but I have lots of warm stuff to give for winter and want to make sure it goes to Calais, not any old charity shop. Thank you in advance for your help. Minka
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